Monsters Inc. Land Updates: New Permit, and Fresh Paint on Old Structure at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Jan 28, 2025 in "Monsters Inc. Land"

Gallery / 5 Photos
Grand Avenue Metal Structure - January 2025

Posted: Tuesday January 28, 2025 8:30am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In a quiet corner of Disney's Hollywood Studios, the mystery surrounding the steel structure located between the exit of Muppet*Vision 3D and Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano has taken another interesting turn.

Grand Avenue Metal Structure - January 2025

Recent developments include the structure being freshly painted a light blue color, marking a noticeable change from its previous rusty red appearance. Disney typically uses the light blue color on structures that it wants to blend into the blue sky, as we have seen at various show buildings in the park. A new Notice of Commencement (NOC) construction permit for the area was also filed earlier this week.

Grand Avenue Metal Structure - January 2025

Originally, this steel framework served as a support structure for a backlot cityscape facade and has had a varied history over the years. It has been the backdrop for several themed meet-and-greet experiences, including appearances by characters from Disney•Pixar's Cars and Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb. While the structure has remained largely unused in recent years, its fresh coat of paint and the newly filed permit suggest it may soon find a new purpose.

Grand Avenue Metal Structure - January 2025

Unfortunately, the NOC permit provides little insight into what might be planned. Its vague description only states, "Provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction," offering no details about the project. However, this structure is located within the area that is set to become the new Monsters Inc. Land, and this might be the first sign of progress on the redevelopment of the existing land into Monstropolis.

Grand Avenue Metal Structure - January 2025

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EagleScout6101 day ago

Already camped out in front of the theater

Bocabear1 day ago

Who can really tell anything from the concept art? Yeah, I see tracks in a few spaces, but the art is as vague as possible....and most likely just a placeholder until they actually cement some of the details.... That coaster could easily just be another Seven Dwarfs Coaster with redressing...and aside from that, all that is shown is some craggy mountain rockwork set pieces....

Giss Neric1 day ago

I think the main issue here is the visibility of the coaster tracks. The more thrilling the coaster (higher drops and inversions) the more likely the tracks will be visible that's why they prefer indoor ones. Tron has an outdoor track but it's covered by a canopy. From the Villains land art, there will be a rollercoaster but It looks like it will still be indoor with a partial outdoor portion.

gerarar1 day ago

2 months to go...

DisneyDean971 day ago

Why can't Disney do both? But I agree with you, they have been coaster heavy lately, and seem to continue that trend with Monsters Inc and the rumored coaster for Villains land. I would love to see Disney innovate a new ride system for a dark ride.

celluloid1 day ago

It depends on what the audience is calling for. Personally I want more dark rides but lately DIsney has been coaster heavy, if not thrilling, coaster heavy due to competition's success. I prefer one or two great that have a thrill with a balance of Dark Rides and Shows for the rest. But that is not the norm as audiences have gotten braver and coaster types becoming more accessible.

DisneyDean971 day ago

I agree, Disney can produce thrilling coasters if they want to. Unfortunately, the 90s was a different era, but who knows, maybe with the success of Velocicoaster and Stardust Racers, Disney might want to compete again in that market. But I just don't see current Disney building a coaster with inversions.

FerretAfros1 day ago

The 10-Miler passed along Grand Ave but did not enter the Muppets Courtyard area where the walls would be, so that is not the cause of any percieved delay. This is different from Dinoland's closure following the Marathon in January, since that course passed directly through the area that's now closed off, including exiting the park through the backstage gate there. Additionally, the mere presence of a race would not preclude crews working overnight that same night, as long as they're able to clear the area in time. MK's Christmas tree is often removed during Marathon Weekend, when the last day guests can be in the park until after 1am (at least, with the park's old hours) and the course needs to be secure for runners by 4:30am. Work that's farther from the course itself in a park with shorter operating hours like this would have even more flexibility. You joke, but that's not too far off from the Disneyland Half Marathon in 2011, during the peak of DCA's overhaul. Running the walled-in gauntlet over uneven trolley tracks was quite the experience!

disney19082 days ago

For what it’s worth was just at Mama Melrose's yesterday for a dinner and our waiter told us they have already been reassigned jobs. He told us they close May 11 and then the very next day work is to begin.

YodaMan2 days ago

Don’t they sell the May the Fourth merch in that store every year? I know they just announced more new merch for this year. Maybe the Powers That Be asked them to hold off on construction until after then?

MisterPenguin2 days ago

It's not a real race unless you have to shimmy over walls.

NeedMoreMickey2 days ago

runDisney 10miler went through HS today so maybe the walls had to wait until after the race weekend

celluloid2 days ago

Never say never. RnR was on par intense for it's time. Paris built a looping coaster and a launching inverting Space Mt in the 90s coaster and park war era.